Jane Lai 3/18/13 Per.

11 Julius Caesar essay

Julius Caesar essay: Brutus and Cassius character foils In the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Brutus and Cassius are two characters depicted as dramatic foils. Brutus and Cassius, both with very different personalities, but share the same ultimate goal of assassinating Caesar. Both Brutus and Cassius have different reasons to assassinate Caesar such motives in conspiracy, personality traits, and military strategies. The first reason of Brutus and Cassiuss dramatic foils is their reasons for killing Caesar. They both have the goal to kill Caesar, but Cassius leans on more on treachery, tricks, and ambition. Brutus, on the other hand is guided by his loyalty to the Rome. Cassius is the one who first organizes the plot against Caesar. Brutus, by contrast, needs to be persuaded and at first hesitates to join the conspiracy because he is good friends with Caesar, but loves Rome more so he puts it in careful consideration. Brutus states: Between the acting of a dreadful thing And the first motion, all the interim is Like a phantasma or a hideous dream. (J.C. 2.1 66-68). Brutus explains how difficult it was to choose Rome over Caesar. He reaches his decision to join the conspiracy based on rational deliberations, and he isn't overjoyed with the plot like Cassius, because he is not motivated by jealously and hatred like Cassius was. Cassius says I was born free as Caesar. (J.C. 1.2 36). This shows Cassiuss jealously towards Caesar. Cassius really tries

to persuade Brutus as much as he can and even goes as far to write fake letters to persuade Brutus, but Brutus relies on his own reason and his noble and loyal obligations as a Roman to do what must be done for the better of the country. The second example of Brutus and Cassius dramatic foils is Brutus being nave and not believing that Mark Antony is a potential threat. In this quote Brutus says What Antony shall speak I will protest. He speaks by leave and by permission. (J.C. 3.1 263264). Brutus is letting Antony speak at Caesars funeral oration. Also, Brutus is friendly to Antony, even after he had killed Caesar. Brutus thinks Antony would surely become an ally, but Cassius still believes Antony has misgivings, and is correct. As Cassius, he foils Brutus because he has more experience than Brutus. Cassius also has more wisdom. Even though Antony promises not to spill anything about the conspiracy, Cassius knows better that he is lying. He also knows human nature better and doesnt jump to conclusions like Brutus. The third example of Brutus and Cassius dramatic foils is how Cassius is deceitful and takes bribes and cheats his way to get what he wants, while Brutus remains honorable and puts it out to Cassius. They get into an argument that Brutus has blamed Lucius Pella for accepting bribes from the Sardians. Cassius wrote a letter saying Pella shouldn't be taken upon punishment, but Brutus didnt really care. He accuses Cassius of being dishonorable and suggesting to let a bribe slide. Cassius admits being called greedy, but Brutus gets to the heart of the matter: they all killed Caesar for justice's sake, but when they start getting involved in base bribes, it compromises and foils their honor and calls into depreciates their noble motives for killing Caesar.

The last example of Brutus and Cassiuss dramatic foils is both their loves for Rome. Both Brutus and Cassius love Rome, and care deeply for the Republic. Cassius' love of Rome comes more from a love of what his country has to offer him personally, or self-interest but still he is patriotic and upset that Rome is ruled by one man which is Caesar. Brutus loves Rome much more than Cassius, as he loves Rome as a whole and not for self-interest reasons. Brutus states Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. (J.C. 3.2 23-24). Brutus was a noble man, who loved Rome so much he killed a good friend and a man he loved for the better of the country. In conclusion, Brutus and Cassius are two characters constantly conflicting each other personality-wise but shared the same goal, to kill Caesar. They held different thoughts, beliefs, and reasons. Shakespeares goal was to foil these characters as putting these two characters together would create a very powerful person. Both Brutus and Cassius had different incentives to kill Caesar, which were motives in conspiracy, personality traits, and military strategies.

Works Cited "Notable Quotes in Julius Caesar." Notable Quotes in Julius Caesar. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. "Essay | Cassius: A Foil to Brutus." BookRags. BookRags, n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013.